Parking lot scam or prelude to robbery?

[anygunanywhere]

I have met Jim face to face before and broke bread with him. He has great situational awareness and his alertness in this event does not surprise me.

Nice work, Jim. Glad you handled this properly and that all came out OK for you.

Anygunanywhere

[seamusTX]

I have met Jim face to face before and broke bread with him. He has great situational awareness ...

Thanks.

Actually the act of putting groceries in the trunk makes a person vulnerable in a lot of ways. I try to move one eye to the back of my head when I'm doing it.

My one regret is that I didn't get their license plate and e-mail the community service officer. Whether it's a scam or robbery, the police should be aware of them. The next target may be weak or gullible.

- Jim

[rp_photo]

I have met Jim face to face before and broke bread with him. He has great situational awareness ...

Thanks.

Actually the act of putting groceries in the trunk makes a person vulnerable in a lot of ways. I try to move one eye to the back of my head when I'm doing it.

I drive a regular cab pickup, so I'm either putting them on the passenger seat or in the bed, which may or may not help.

[seamusTX]

The problem is having both hands full and having to look into the vehicle.

People putting babies into car seats have it even worse. You can drop a bag of groceries, but not a baby. Also vacuuming the car at a car wash is awful in terms of situational awareness.

- Jim

[Jim Beaux]

25 years ago an elderly guy named Joe told me that he was driving between Beaumont and Houston on IH-10. He said a car pulled up in the lane beside him and was honking and pointing down under his car. The passenger was indicating that something was wrong with his car.

Both cars pulled over on the shoulder and Joe got out and was looking under his car as the other two guys were frantically hollering and pointing as they ran back to him. Joe told them he didnt see anything and the guys, still a distance away was hollering and saying yes, right there, look under the front! Joe went to the front and was again looking under his car while the 2 guys kept hollering and running towards him.

Before Joe had a clue he found himself thrown across the fender of his car and his wallet being slipped from his pocket. The other guy had opened the passenger door and pulled Joe's wife out and threw her in the ditch.

The two guys then jumped in Joe's car and blasted off.

When DPS arrived they told Joe that IH-10 was a rampant crime area and was as dangerous as any dark ally in the worst parts of Houston.

I never heard anymore about this.

[Rangel]

stories like this make me sick... my wife just applied for her chl and i couldnt be happier. also she never goes anywhere alone anymore.

[ddurkof]

There is a repair scam where they do some low quality work at a high price and if you don't pay them the put a mechanics lien against the vehicle. It is simpler to pay. They seem to hit up females and older people who are not savvy.

[JALLEN]

Are you guys having a crime wave back there or something? Jeepers!

Where is Joe Horn when you need him?

[carlson1]

. . .my wife. . . also she never goes anywhere alone anymore.

This right here. My wife has not been anywhere alone in about 15 years. By the way I have not either other than the hospital.

[filmtex]

Sounds like a scam, at least, to me as we'll. for years I worked at a gas station in downtown San Bernardino, CA and dealt with these kind of folks on a daily basis. It seems like they're always up to something. Like some of the other posters said, if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Situational awareness raising its ugly head once again!

[seamusTX]

... dealt with these kind of folks on a daily basis. It seems like they're always up to something....

If they put the same energy that they use to hustle into honest work, they would do well. But they have to have a dishonest "angle."

I read an interview with a reformed scam artist once. He said something like, "Your money isn't your money—it's my money that's in your pocket or bank account."

Referring to the highway robbery above, this is a common technique. Another is bumping a vehicle from behind to get the driver to stop and get out. There have been many waves of serial robbery, rape, and murder along interstates. I-10 is notorious that way. Even though it is heavily traveled, there are long stretches where there is nothing but woods, swamps, or pastures along the road.

I had an ironic incident where I was being honest: I saw a car traveling along with the tail of the passsenger's coat hanging out the door. I realized if they drove any distance it would be filthy and shredded. I tried to get the attention of the passenger at a stop light. The woman passenger and male driver ignored me, looking straight ahead.

Oh, well.

- Jim

- Jim